HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR LABEL PRINTER.......

The most important questions to ask are:-

1. How many labels per day or per week do you need to print?

     This dictates whether you look at Desktop Printers (good for up to hundreds per week)

                                                                 Mid Range Printers (good for thousands per week)

                                                                 Industrial Printers (good for thousands of labels per day)

2. How wide does your label need to be?

    Thermal Transfer Label Printers come in various sizes (widths) of print head.

    2," 4", 6" or 8"   The printers become more expensive the wider the head is. There is not

    that much difference in price however, between a 2" and a 4" wide label printer. We would

    generally recommend that you go for a 4" printer, even though you may be nearly always

    printing a 2" wide label. This is because once a customer is used to printing a certain

    size say for product labels, they may then decide to look at printing different labels such

    as address labels. If they bought a 2" wide printer, this would not be wide enough for a

    good clear legible address label - for the few pounds extra, why not buy a printer that can

    do both?

3. Direct Thermal or Thermal Transfer?

    Thermal Transfer Printers can print both direct thermal and thermal transfer labels. On the

    other hand, Direct Thermal Printers can only print direct thermal labels. For the same

    reason as given above, for a few pounds more, why not have one that can do both?

    Direct Thermal Labels are good for address labels and for perishable products - i.e. those

    items that are in the distribution chain for a limited time. This is due to the fact that the direct

    thermal paper (rather like old fax paper) can discolour with time, and UV radiation.

    The costs of running Direct Thermal / Thermal Transfer Labels are very similar - with

    Thermal Transfer Labels, you require plain white paper (or polyester etc) labels together

    with the black thermal transfer ribbon. Direct Thermal Labels require no transfer ribbon

    but the labels themselves are more expensive due to their chemical coating. DT labels are

    also more abrasive and will wear your print head out quicker.

4. What resolution head do you require..?

    The standard resolution is 200dpi which is fine for most peoples requirements. This

    enables crisp bar codes and text to be printed. Replacement print heads are relatively

    inexpensive.

    300dpi heads are preferable if small graphics are to be printed.

    400dpi heads would be needed for small graphics and 2D bar codes

    600dpi heads are available for only certain printers. Fantastic fine resolution for tiny

    bar codes on circuit boards and tiny 2D codes. Replacement heads very expensive!

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